How to communicate with Vietnamese people?

Before coming into contact with the Vietnamese, it is essential that you be aware of their significant communication patterns as you can acknowledge how their communication style differs from yours and avoid misunderstandings.

Check out “How do Vietnamese people communicate with others? (1)” and “How do Vietnamese people communicate with others? (2)” to find out more.

After you have in hand necessary information about notable communications patterns of the Vietnamese, here are some dos and don’ts you should follow when communicating with them:

1. Do:

• Greet the Vietnamese in an appropriate way

It is common for foreigners to say “Hello” to the locals in a general way. However, to earn favorable impression of Vietnamese people, you should use their native language to greet them - say “Xin chào” with a broad smile. They will reciprocate with a broader one. Especially when you come from a different culture and the locals might hesitate to approach you, a friendly “Xin chào” is likely to diminish the difference and warm up the conversation.

However, you might be surprised to figure out the Vietnamese custom of saying hello. It is to add different pronouns to “xin chào”. For instance, if you are talking to someone who is older than you, say “em chào anh ạ" (hello brother) or “em chào chị ạ” (hello sister). There are a lot of pronouns that the Vietnamese add to their greetings to show respect to the elders and seniors. If you are not yet accustomed to using these pronouns, a slight bow to the elders is fine.

How to say Hello in Vietnam (source: colanguage.com)

• Make efforts to keep the conversations harmonious and balanced

After a proper greeting, the next thing you should do is to strike up a conversation with the Vietnamese. In maintaining that conversation, you should put an effort into keeping it going on harmoniously and smoothly. Why? Because the Vietnamese tend to value harmony and avoid conflicts, as can be inferred from “How do Vietnamese people communicate with others? (1)”.

In order to facilitate that, a smile might do you a favor as it can be interpreted as a sign of good will and friendliness. Besides, if you have good sense of humor, you should take advantage of that because Vietnamese people love talking to someone who is humorous. Funny jokes can also be used as a way to break the ice between two strangers when they first meet.

• Pay respect if you are talking to the elders

One significant trait of Vietnamese people you should be aware of is that they put strong emphasis on respect. They express it in many different ways towards the elders and seniors – a wide range of pronouns they use to address others; simple non-verbal expressions like a slight bow, avoiding eye contact, etc.

Therefore, if you are talking to someone who is a lot older than you, it is recommended that you treat them with deference. Remember to use honorifics (Mr., Mrs.) to address them if you are not used to Vietnamese pronouns.

You should also use respectful gestures like bowing slightly or placing your left hand on the inside of the elbow when shaking hands with the elders. Flippant gestures like putting your hands over others’ shoulders – which is commonly used among friends, should be avoided.

• Pay respect to Vietnam and its culture

It is a common sense that you should pay respect to any country that you are visiting. Especially when you are on your long Vietnam customized tour and intend to acquaint yourself with the locals, that fact is of greater importance. Why? Because Vietnamese people are well-known for their high national pride.

In order not to offend the Vietnamese, you should be tactful when expressing your attitude towards Vietnam and its culture. If you have any dissatisfaction over their country, it is advisable that you avoid direct criticism.

Pay respect to the people and culture when travelling to Vietnam

2. Don’t:

• Be offended if your Vietnamese partner does not mean what she or he says

If you spend some time diving into significant traits of Vietnamese people, you might find out that they have a preference for indirect communication style. Not only Vietnamese but also people from other Asian countries – namely: Japan, Korean, Chinese, etc. share the same characteristic.

One popular example illustrating this point is the Vietnamese’s “yes” and “no”. As Vietnamese people would love to avoid conflicts, they are inclined to answer “yes” to every questions and proposals while not totally in agreement with them. This is considered as an act of politeness in Vietnam since a direct “No” or refusal, in their point of view, might hurt their partners’ feelings and cause them to lose face.

On your Vietnam private tour, there are chances that you might encounter a situation where you see a Vietnamese politely agree with you but then find out that he or she does not share the same opinion. In this case, don’t take offence because they shall not harbor any bad intentions, it is just that the way they convey their attitude is different from yours.

• Criticize someone directly and publicly

As the concept of “face”- which indicates one’s reputation, honor and dignity, is important in Vietnam, arguments or direct criticism do not usually take place in this country. Most Vietnamese people are sensitive to criticism and as a result, they also avoid criticizing others directly.

Therefore, if you intend to debate with someone in Vietnam, handle it with tact. You should avoid harsh words or direct disapproval since it might cause harm to his or her dignity. This tip is especially important if you have in mind an intention to establish and maintain relationship with the locals on your Vietnam customized holiday. Acknowledging this trait can help your relationship proceed more easily and smoothly.

Avoid direct criticism when talking to the Vietnamese

Related articles:

What is the attitude of the Vietnamese towards foreign tourists?

How to leave good impression on Vietnamese people?

How to establish and maintain relationship with Vietnamese people? (1)

How to establish and maintain relationship with Vietnamese people? (2)

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